Royal Dutch Shell, the parent body of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), has attributed the persistent oil pipeline spillage in the Niger Delta region of the country to sabotage and oil theft. The global oil giant in a report said saboteurs, including thieves, caused an 80 percent increase in the number of spills in 2018. The report added that the development contrasts the period when militants dominated the region stating that there have been no militant-related halts to operations since 2016. The report underscores the difficulty the country faces in trying to fully rid itself of security challenges that have plagued it for decades. Crude oil export is responsible for over 85 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings and 70 percent revenue source with about $43.6-billion of sales last year, according to ITC Trade Map, a venture between the WTO and […]